Headlock wedge



R. W. RODGERS HEAD LOCK WEDGE Filed Feb. 15, 1946 Dec. 28, 1948.

INVENTORK REGINALD w RODGERS BY AT TORNEYS Patented Dec. 28, 1948 HEADLOCK WEDGE Reginald W. Rodgers, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Application February 15, 1946, Serial No. 647,665

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to wedge devices for locking the heads of hammers, axes, and similar implements to their handles.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved head locking structure for hammers, axes, and similar implements, said locking structure being very simple in construction, easy to apply and providing very rigid securement of the implement head to its handle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved locking structure for securing a hammer head, axe head, or similar tool head, to its handle, said structure affording a very secure and positive engagement of the tool head with its handle, preventing the head from becoming loosened or disengaged from the handle during use of the implement, and avoiding injury to the user by insuring the securement of the tool head.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an axe head secured to its handle by locking means constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the axe head of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a hammer head secured to its handle by the locking means of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a portion of the hammer head of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the upper end portion of an implement handle ac-- cording to the present invention.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of a wedge member employed in the tool head locking structure of the present invention and adapted to cooperate with the handle structure of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, ll designates an axe head, said axe head being mounted in a generally conventional manner on the upper end of a handle l2. Head II is formed with a handle receiving bore l3, the rear upper end portion of the bore wall being inclined upwardly and rearwardly as shown at It in Figure l. The upper rear portion of handle [2 is formed with a curved undercut recess l5, which is upwardly and rearwardly inclined at 15 and defines with inclined portion l4 of the handle receiving bore of the axe head a wedge-receiving recess. Into this recess a wedge member I6 is driven, said wedge member being formed to closely fit the recess and having a curved lower forward portion I! adapted to be fitted into the undercut portion l5 of the handle recess. The axe head is provided with a countersunk side opening l8 through which a fastening stud I9 is passed, said fastening stud being threadedly engaged in a tapped hole 20 formed in the rear portion of wedge member l6.

Figures 3 and 4 show a hammer head 2| secured to a handle 22 in substantially the same manner as the axe of Figures 1 and 2. An undercut wedge receiving recess is provided by forming the interior upper rear portion of the handle receiving bore with an inclined portion V 23 and undercutting the rear surface of the top portion of the handle at 24. The hammer head is formed with a countersunk screw receiving opening 25 to receive the screw [9 which is threadedly engaged with the wedge member IS in the same manner as in Figures 1 and 2.

If the handle of the implement should eventually become loose through shrinkage of the wood, the wedge Hi can be removed and a shim can be placed in cavity [5, following which wedge l6 can be replaced.

Although a specific embodiment of a head locking structure for hand implements has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention other than as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A hand implement comprising a head memher, a bore in said head member, a handlememher having an upper portion adapted to be received in said bore, the upper rear wall of said bore being upwardly and rearwardly inclined from a point intermediate the inner and outer ends of the bore to the outer end thereof, the rear surface of said handle member adjacent said upper rear wall being formed with an undercut recess extending from a point below the outer end of the handle substantially corresponding to the point intermediate the inner and outer ends of the bore to the outer end of the handle and having a substantially straight upwardly and rearwardly inclined upper portion and a curved lower portion, a Wedge member lockingly fitted in the space defined by said undercut recess and said inclined bore wall portion, and a fastener member passing through said head member and engaging said wedge member.

2. The structure of claim 1, and wherein said fastener member is a screw stud, said screw stud being in threaded engagement with said wedge member.

REGINALD W. RODGERS.

f nErEnENoEs errnp The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date Grellner Apr. 10, 1883 Baker Sept. 20, 1898 Ostlund Apr. 27, 1915 Landquist Dec. 21, 1920 FOREIGN PATENTS Country I Date Italy June 15, 1937 

